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Moorish Folk Art

MOORISH STYLE

After the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the eighth century, Islamic Spain became a cultural mix of influences that shaped both private homes and religious spaces. Moorish design was the name given to this style, which evolved through the 15th century with vibrant tile work, horseshoe arches and lavish ornamentation, most visible at sites such as Granada’s Alhambra and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. Moorish furniture was often similarly ornate, and featured pieces inlaid with wood, ivory and bone.

When European designers began studying Moorish art and architecture in the early 19th century, it led to a Moorish Revival. Appropriating the style’s decorative flourishes and architectural elements, it promoted a romantic view of Islamic design. Travelers could bring home a memento of what they witnessed in the Middle East, a trend that aligned with a fad for themed interiors. Men’s smoking rooms arranged with ottomans, divans and settees and inlaid tables were especially popular, as were cafés where coffee was served amid bead curtains and colorful floor mats. (Handwoven rugs are a centerpiece of Moorish interiors.) Octagonal rooms with domed ceilings were created for wealthy homes, frequently with furnishings like pipe stands, filigree plasterwork and arched doorways. The horseshoe arch is an iconic attribute of Moorish architecture that, in addition to Spain, can be found in Sicily, Morocco and elsewhere.

Several late 19th to early 20th-century movements featured Moorish touches. The American and English Aesthetic Movement, for example, borrowed liberally from global decorating styles, as seen in furniture designed by Lockwood de Forest, a New York-born artist who mixed Eastern and Western forms. The visual vocabulary of Art Nouveau also references the elegant use of geometry in Moorish design, with Milanese Art Nouveau furniture designer Carlo Bugatti drawing inspiration from the style. The Arts and Crafts movement, which prized expressive yet simple design, incorporated Moorish influences; hand-painted furniture and tile work created by William De Morgan, a British designer and potter who made furnishings for the likes of Morris & Co., were informed by techniques from Moorish Spain.

Find a collection of Moorish lighting, decorative objects, folk art and more furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Moorish
Handpainted Moroccan Red Parchment Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp s...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Antique Moroccan Ceramic Bowl Adorned with Moorish Silver Filigree from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan polychrome decorative ceramic Bowl, dish from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral Moorish design...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moroccan Moorish Ceramic Bowl Adorned with Silver Filigree from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan polychrome decorative ceramic Bowl, dish from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral Moorish design...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moroccan Moorish Ceramic Bowl with Lid, Tajine from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Moroccan ceramic decorative serving tajine polychrome with leather, stones and metal overlay with conical overlay lid. The bottom is a circular ceramic bowl and the top of the tagine is distinctively shaped into a cone. Handcrafted and hand painted with Moorish designs by artisans in Fez Morocco. Great decorative Moroccan Folk ceramic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moroccan Orientalist Framed Giclee
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Orientalist Moroccan scene giclee painting of the King o Morocco. French orientalist reproduction painting of Mohamed V coming back from exile with a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Moroccan Ceramic Bowl with Lid Tajine from Fez Polychrome
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan large ceramic decorative serving bowl tajine polychrome with leather, stones and metal overlay with conical overlay lid. The bottom is a circular ceramic bowl and the top of the tagine is distinctively shaped into a cone. Handcrafted and hand painted with Moorish designs by artisans in Fez Morocco. Great decorative Moroccan Folk ceramic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Tribal Art African Parchment Wall Sconce Red
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Moroccan Blue Ceramic Dish Bowl Adorned with Silver Filigree from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan Bleu de Fez decorative ceramic Bowl, dish. Ceramic bowl in Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral Moorish ...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Handcrafted Antique Moroccan Couscous Bowl from Fez, 19th Century
Located in North Hollywood, CA
An under-glazed painted pottery bowl with abstract naive design, blue, ochre, brown. Moroccan antique pottery bowl of deep rounded form with flattened rim rising on a low ring foot, hand-painted on the exterior with black decoration, the interior in polychrome painted, having abstract design in blue and ochre with turquoise accents, crack lure. Handcrafted antique ceramic dish, Fez, Morocco, Circa 1880, Museum quality piece. Antique Mokhfia (couscous bowl...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Vintage Moroccan Ceramic Urn with Lid
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Moroccan Ceramic Urn with Lid, white crackled ceramic with silver overlaid. Great to use in the kitchen or in the bathroom. Great folk...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Khartoum, 1966 British Epic War Movie Poster in Spanish
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This is an original release one-sheet poster for the film KHARTOUM starring Laurence Olivier and Charlton Heston. In Spanish Khartoum movie poster. The poster features renowned ar...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Vintage Moroccan Leather Pouf Hand-Tooled in Marrakesh Red and Black
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Moroccan red and black round leather pouf hand tooled in Marrakesh, Morocco. Handcrafted by Moroccan artisans. Size is 21 in. diameter x ...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Leather

Moroccan Parchment Handpainted Folk Art Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sh...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

North African Tribal Art Parchment Wall Decor
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African tribal art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan art pieces could be used as wall lamp s...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Moroccan Ethnic Art African Parchment Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sh...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Glazed Moorish Ceramic Covered Jar Handcrafted in Fez Morocco
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moorish ceramic Moroccan glazed polychrome jar tureen with cover. Hand painted ceramic Jubbana, handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco. ...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moorish Turkish Tile with Floral Design
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moorish Turkish handcrafted decorative tile with hand painted floral design. Crackle glazed ceramic tile hand painted with flowers. Great zellige decorative Moorish ottoman artwork...
Category

1920s Turkish Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moorish Ceramic Glazed Covered Urns Handcrafted in Fez Morocco
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large pair of Moorish Moroccan glazed polychrome ceramic jars tureen with cover. Hand painted ceramic Jubbana, handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco. Moorish desi...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moorish Tile with Arabic Writing in Brown
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan handcrafted decorative tile with hand painted Arabic writing in brown on ivory crackle glazed ceramic. Arabic writing on ceramic tile hand pai...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Moroccan Leather Rectangular Pouf in Red and Black
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large vintage red and black hand tooled leather Moroccan ottoman. Rectangular shape pouf in red and black leather embroidered with black and white silk threads. Handcrafted by skil...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Leather

Vintage Moroccan African Ethnic Art Wall Decor
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Moroccan Orientalist Oil Painting of a Rug Market
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan orientalist oil on canvas painting of a 19th century Moroccan rug market scene with an sellers seating on a pile of carpet and two other men wearing traditional colorful robes standing and checking the goods. The background depict an old house with wooden mucharabie and Moorish arches. Contemporary French oil on canvas orientalist painting of a Moroccan market...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Canvas

Collector Moroccan Ceremonial Gold Horse Saddle Cover
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan horse saddle cover made for a ceremonial Festival and shows. Elaborately embroidered overall in gold threads, comprising of a saddl...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Leather, Wood

Brass Repousse Rose Water Perfume Sprinkler Bottle
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Brass repousse decorative collectible rose, orange water perfume sprinkler bottle. Brass hammered and chase design. They are used to spray rose water on gue...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brass

Moroccan Ceramic Vase from Fez Blue and White with Silver Filigree
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fabulous handcrafted antique Moroccan ceramic vase in Moorish style adorned with Fine filigree silver nickel work overlaid. The color of...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Moroccan Ceramic Tajine from Fez Polychrome
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Moroccan ceramic decorative serving tajine polychrome with leather, stones and metal overlay with conical overlay lid. The bottom is a circular ceramic bowl and the top of the tagine is distinctively shaped into a cone. Handcrafted and hand painted with Islamic Moorish designs by artisans in Fez Morocco. Great decorative Moroccan Folk ceramic...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moroccan Tile with Arabic Writing in Brown
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan handcrafted decorative tile with hand painted Arabic writing in brown on ivory crackle glazed ceramic. Arabic writing on ceramic tile hand pai...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moorish Glass Perfume Bottle Sprinkler with Embossed Metal Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with raised embossed silvered metal floral design over amber glass. The pressed glass bottle in Art Deco, Art Nouveau style is oval shape with curved sides and hand decorated with embossed metal silvered overlay. This has a long metal top spout that unscrews so the bottle can be filled to pour the perfume or rose water into this little luxe bottle. This is a recycled vintage French perfume bottle Reve D'Or and mark in the bottom by "L T Piver Paris". Handcrafted in Marrakech, Morocco by skilled artisans that used recycle perfume bottle and add the metal overlay...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Moorish Ceramic Tile with Arabic Writing
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan handcrafted decorative tile with hand painted Arabic writing in brown on ivory crackle glazed ceramic. Arabic writing on ceramic tile hand pai...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moorish Tile with Arabic Brown Writing
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan handcrafted decorative tile with hand painted Arabic writing in brown on ivory crackle glazed ceramic. Arabic writing on ceramic tile hand-painted by artist in Fez Morocco....
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moroccan Ceramic Plate Adorned with Silver Filigree from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted large Moroccan polychrome decorative ceramic plate from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral designs and adorned wit...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Moroccan African Ethnic Art
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African tribal art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Parchment Moroccan African Tribal Art Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Pair of Parchment Moroccan African Ethnic Wall Art
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African tribal art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Large Pair of Moroccan Damask Green Bolster Lumbar Decorative Pillows
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large pair of Moroccan Damask green floral bolster lumbar decorative pillows. Great to use as accent pillows on a bed or sofa throw pillows. Pillow ...
Category

1970s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Fabric

Moroccan Brown Ceramic Tile with Arabic Writing
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan handcrafted decorative tile with hand painted Arabic writing in brown on ivory crackle glazed ceramic. Arabic writing on ceramic tile hand pai...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Large Moroccan Ceramic Vase from Fez with Blue Calligraphy Writing
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Moroccan glazed ceramic vase from Fez. Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand painted with Arabic calligraphy writing. This kind of Art Writing looks calligraphic is call...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat in Original Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
AL Malaikah vintage Masonic Shriner iconic burgundy wool Fez hat with original box. Al Malaikah, legion of Honor vintage fez hat from the Los Angeles ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Vintage Orientalist Oil on Canvas A Portrait of A Young Girl
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Orientalist oil on canvas portrait of a young girl, painting depicting an orientalist girl dressed in traditional garments. Meticulous atte...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Canvas

Moroccan Caftan Floral Brocade Multicolored Embroidered Kaftan 1970s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Gorgeous vintage hostess gown, floral multicolored brocade Kaftan, circa 1970s. Exotic oriental floral long maxi caftan dress with wide arm and lo...
Category

1970s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brocade, Braid

Vintage Moroccan Kaftan 1970s Red and Gold Floral Brocade Caftan Maxi Dress
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Metallic red and gold brocade maxi dress kaftan hand made by Moroccan artist. Handmade vintage exotic 1970s gold and red metallic brocade ceremonial caftan gown from North Africa, M...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brocade

Vintage Caftan, Dark Blue Silk Velvet with Silver Trim, 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing vintage caftan, royal blue silk velvet heavily hand embroidered with silver trim, circa 1970s The velvet kaftan is handcrafted and embel...
Category

1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metallic Thread

Hand-Painted Parchment Moroccan Art Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade. Ir...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Handcrafted Parchment African Red Art Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade. Ir...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Moroccan Round Leather Pouf Hand-Tooled in Marrakesh
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan blue and brown round leather pouf hand tooled in Marrakesh, Morocco. Handcrafted by skill Moroccan artisans. A pair is available, price ...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Leather

Elegant Moroccan Caftan Green and Gold Embroidered with Moorish Designs
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Elegant Moroccan caftan green and gold embroidered trim, circa 1980s. This long maxi dress kaftan is embroidered and embellished with traditional trim in gold. One of a kind Moroccan...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Fabric

Antique Carved Wooden Harem Shoe
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique hand-carved wooden Turkish harem shoe. One shoe only available. Great decorative collector item, circa 1870.
Category

Late 19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Antique Red Velvet Efe Zeybek Jacket Turkish Vest with Gold Embroidery
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Early 20th child Middle Eastern Efe Zeybek Jacket. Kid Efe Zeybek Costume Turkish authentic ethnic vest. Dark brown red velvet with gold foliates and gold trim. Open sleeves, red cotton lining. Antique collector red velvet jacket with gold Middle Eastern Moorish style embroidery. Small tiny Turkish antique vest...
Category

1940s Turkish Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Velvet

Vintage Moroccan Kaftan Brocade Embroidered with Pink and Gold Trim, circa 1970
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Elegant vintage designer Moroccan caftan, floral brocade embroidered with hot pink and gold trim. This chic Bohemian maxi dress kaftan is embroidered and embellished with gold and pi...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brocade

Antique Turkish Hand-Knotted Ethnic Rug
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand-knotted antique ethnic rug from Eastern Turkey, circa 1940. Size: 3ft 6 in x 5ft 8in. Traditional Turkish carpet with floral abstract design. Antique oriental accent rug...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Moroccan Blue & White Ceramic Footed Vase from Fez with Silver Filigree
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Moroccan blue and white ceramic footed vase from Fez. Moorish style handcrafted vase adorned with fine filigree silver nickel work, with two handles. Antique Hispano Moresq...
Category

1890s Moroccan Antique Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Moorish Ceramic Vase from Fez Blue and White with Silver filigree
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fabulous handcrafted antique Moroccan Moorish ceramic vase in Moorish style adorned with fine filigree silver nickel work with handles. The color of the ceramic is renowned as bleu de Fez. Blue and white footed ceramic vase...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moorish folk art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish folk art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish folk art made in a specific country, there are Africa, North Africa, and Maghreb pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, and Alexander McQueen. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $7,000 while the average work can sell for $675.

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